Smithereens gather for unbroken wall of opposition

Leadnow, an online campaign organization, is in the final preparations for a province-wide demonstration supporting a ban on tanker expansion on B.C.’s coast.

Communities across BC are planning a province-wide Defend Our Coast day of action to show growing opposition to tar sands, pipelines and tankers and the risks they pose to our coast, rivers and livelihoods.

Rallies will be held at MLA’s offices across the province on Wednesday, October 24th, and participants will link arms to symbolize BC’s unbroken wall of opposition.

63 communities have confirmed events.

Participants will be calling on provincial politicians to make a firm commitment to ban tanker expansion on BC’s coast, a move that would stop Enbridge and Kinder Morgan’s pipeline plans.

“These events will build on the momentum from Monday’s historic demonstration in Victoria where thousands of people gathered on the legislature grounds to call on our provincial leaders to defend our coast,” said Nadia Nowak, Local Outreach Coordinator for Leadnow.ca.

“Now, in an unprecedented display of unity, people in communities across BC are coming together like never before to form a wall of opposition to pipeline and tanker expansion.”

Support for the community-based events reflects recent polling data by Stratcom that shows a majority of British Columbians oppose the proposed Enbridge and Kinder Morgan pipelines.

“Despite the clear opposition of British Columbians, the federal government is trying to ram pipelines through our province,” said Nowak.

“These local events will make a powerful visual statement to show the unprecedented depth and breadth of this movement, and make sure our politicians know that we are organizing in the communities they represent.”